Jerusalem - The spiritual leader of an Israeli ultra-Orthodox political party was hospitalized after a suspected minor stroke in Jerusalem on Saturday, a development that could shake his party’s fortunes and mute one of Israel’s most influential voices.

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, 92, is conscious and in a stable condition, Hadassah hospital spokeswoman Etti Dvir said, adding that doctors had requested he remain in the facility for several days for observation and further checks. She did not provide further details on his ailment.

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Israeli media reported he was rushed to Hadassah hospital after collapsing during morning prayers in a synagogue on Saturday morning.

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef suffered a mild stroke on Saturday during the Sabbath-morning prayer service. He was taken to Jerusalem’s Hadassah Ein Karem hospital for treatment and observation and remained in hospital overnight, although he retained full consciousness throughout the event.

According to a statement made by Hadassah Medical Director Dr. Yuval Weiss, “Extensive tests revealed that Rabbi Yosef experienced a very light stroke. It was decided to keep in him in hospital for a number of other tests and for rest,” Weiss said. “Throughout the entire time, the rabbi has remained fully conscious and [has been] communicating fully with those around.

He added that he hoped the rabbi would be released from hospital in the coming days.

A Shas party spokesman said that Yosef, 92, was having trouble operating his left hand while praying in the synagogue at his residence in the capital’s Har Nof neighborhood on Saturday morning.

After a doctor assessed the rabbi at the residence, it was discerned that he had suffered a mild stroke and was taken to hospital.

Speaking on Channel 2 news, joint Shas leader Arye Deri said that he had talked with Yosef in the afternoon, and that the rabbi “spoke fluently, and was clear, concentrated and focused.”

“Still, a stroke is a stroke and he will remain in hospital for observation and further tests,” Deri said.

Deri and joint Shas leader and Interior Minister Eli Yishai walked to the hospital in the early afternoon to visit the rabbi.

Yishai said that Yosef was in good spirits and gave a Torah lesson on the plagues in Egypt during the Third Meal of the Sabbath.

A communal prayer service was scheduled for Saturday night for Yosef’s recovery at his residence in Har Nof.

While speaking on Channel 2, Deri called directly on Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to speak with him about entering into a coalition with Shas.

Speaking to the camera Deri told Netanyahu: “Call me, I’m ready to come to your home and complete negotiations in order to enter the government,” the Shas leader said in response to accusations that he himself had been in negotiations with Labor and the parties of the center left.

Instead, Deri accused Netanyahu of preferring to form a coalition with the center left instead of “his natural partners.”

“For two or three months now, I have been shouting from every platform that whoever votes Shas will get us, as well as Netanyahu as prime minister,” Deri added.

“But, I estimate that the day after the elections he’ll look right and left and he’ll find his natural partners,” he said nevertheless.

The Shas leader also said that he “would not apologize for the controversial campaign ad Shas broadcast last week, in which an obviously Russian woman received a conversion to Judaism by fax while standing under a wedding canopy besides her husband-to-be.

“We were targeting Yisrael Beytenu who have a clear agenda to advance civil unions, they are granting conversions via fax, is that what we want here,” he said in reference to the state conversion system.

Critics of the ad accused Shas of broadcasting racist messages and negatively stereotyping the Russian community. Religious-rights groups also attacked the notion that the conversion process is insubstantial, and pointed out that Rabbi Yosef himself has approved the system and the conversions carried out through its offices.

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Jan 12, 2013 at 09:30 PMAnonymous Says:

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"Outspoken spiritual leader of an Israeli political party"?!?! That's the best way to describe Harav Ovadia Yosef, one of the gedolei yisroel, and the clear posek hador of the sefardim?!?!? ”

He should have a refuah shelamah but he clearly has staked out a dual role in the political world separate from his religious role. For the past few months, he has been expressing increasingly strident positions on a variey of public policy issues and engaging in political hyperbole. Thus, is not at all inappropriate for the article to describe him as an "outspoken leader of a political party" since he has become the voice of Shas.

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Jan 12, 2013 at 10:25 PMc Says:

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Because a 92 year old man never suffered a stroke unless cursed by a snake oil salesman. ”

I don't know. I mean Amnon Yitzchok just cursed him a few days ago. First R Yosef's crowd says Amnon will be in trouble for starting up with Rabbanim. Then Amnon says hey u guys are going to suffer for starting up with me. And then look what happens. I hope he has a refuah shliamah asap but he should probably apologize to Amnon just to be safe.

Jan 12, 2013 at 11:02 PMFacts1 Says:

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Jan 13, 2013 at 03:28 AMproud-mo-israeli Says:

maybe it because of his shas advert that denigrated the Olim from Russia or maybe it's because he encourages his talmidim not to serve in Tzahal whilst all the rest of us do & risk our lives whilst doing so?

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Jan 13, 2013 at 04:47 AMqazxc Says:

“
I don't know. I mean Amnon Yitzchok just cursed him a few days ago. First R Yosef's crowd says Amnon will be in trouble for starting up with Rabbanim. Then Amnon says hey u guys are going to suffer for starting up with me. And then look what happens. I hope he has a refuah shliamah asap but he should probably apologize to Amnon just to be safe. ”

Good idea. I'll see if I can get him on the phone and let one of the greatest talmidai chachomim in klal yisroel know that an anonymous blogger recommended he apologize to one of the greatest celebrities in klal yisroel.

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Jan 13, 2013 at 05:35 AMc Says:

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It is clear that you have no idea who Harav Yosef is otherwise you would not have made your comments.I hope for you that Shamayim will not punish severly. ”

Wow you frumma really know how to throw around the curses. You think G-d is just sitting around waiting to punish everyone who you don't agree with. Amnon is cursing Yosef, Yosef is cursing Amnom> you think Hashem will punish anyone who agrees with Amnom. Are all of you so disturbed or is just certain groups? I mean people like you make yidden hate frumkeit. Please enter therapy and rid yourself of these pagan beliefs.